He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was right.
He knows that Konoha is now unable to fight another war.
He knew that if Uchiha Shaoyu came again, Konoha might really perish.
But he was unwilling to do so.
He is Danzo, the leader of the root, and the guardian of Konoha.
All his life, he has been fighting to protect Konoha, killing people for Konoha's interests, and doing shady things for Konoha's future.
How could he just watch Konoha's money flow into the pocket of that inherently evil Uchiha kid?
"Hiruzen Sarutobi." His voice deepened, and a cold light flashed in his eyes, "This money cannot be given to him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows furrowed even more tightly.
"What do you mean?"
Danzo looked at him, the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
That smile gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a chill in his heart.
"You already gave him the money, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
"Yes."
"Then what happens after he leaves Konoha is not our business."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed.
"Danzo, what do you want to do?"
Danzo did not answer, but the smile at the corner of his mouth became deeper.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at him, his eyes full of complicated emotions.
He knows Danzo too well.
This old guy has been like this since he was young. He will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He will do anything for the benefit of Konoha.
Assassination, kidnapping, frame-up, frame-up - as long as it is beneficial to Konoha, he dares to do anything.
Now, he's going to do it again.
"Danzo!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice became stern, "Don't mess around!"
Danzo looked at him, his eyes full of ridicule.
"What's going on? Hiruzen Sarutobi, I'm just protecting Konoha's interests. Those 800 million taels are Konoha's money, not Kumogakure's money, not Uchiha Shaoyu's money. Why give it to him?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
"Do you know who Kakuzu is?" he asked.
Danzo snorted disdainfully.
"Just a traitorous ninja. He has lived for almost a hundred years, but he is still a jounin-level guy. He relied on that Earth Grudge Fear secret technique to replace his heart and survive until now. If we really want to fight, who is he?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at him, his eyes full of complicated emotions.
What Danzo said is true.
Kakuzu Although he is famous, he is old and should only be at the Jonin level.
The three guards around him were just ordinary jounin.
If Danzo takes action personally, with Root's elite, it is indeed possible...
What is possible?
Is it possible to get back the 800 million taels? Is it possible that Konoha will not have to bear this huge loss? Is it possible that Uchiha Shaoyu will not be able to get this money?
It's possible...
He didn't think about it any further.
Because he knows that this is wrong.
This is a violation of the agreement.
If discovered, Konoha will face retaliation from Kumogakure. At that time, Uchiha Shaoyu will have every reason to attack Konoha again.
And this time, no one can blame him, because Konoha breached the contract first.
But another voice sounded in his heart -
What if Danzo succeeds?
What if he could do it cleanly and leave no one alive?
What if no one knows that Konoha did it?
The 800 million taels are back.
Konoha will not have to bear this huge loss.
Uchiha Shaoyu won't get the money either.
Although he will be angry, suspicious, and investigating, he has no evidence and cannot do anything to Konoha.
At most, it's just a few words of protest.
What then?
Then Konoha won.
Sarutobi Hiruzen Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Eight hundred million taels.
That's 800 million taels.
How many things can Konoha do?
How many families can live a good life?
How many children can receive a better education?
How many ninjas can be given better equipment?
He opened his eyes and looked at Danzo.
Danzo is looking at him, his eyes shining with expectation.
He knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was hesitating.
But he knows Hiruzen Sarutobi too well.
This old guy may appear to be a benevolent Hokage, but deep down, just like him, he is willing to do anything to protect Konoha.
It's just that Hiruzen Sarutobi is better at pretending than him.
"Danzo." Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear anything."
Danzo's eyes lit up.
It is the light that a hunter has when he sees his prey, and the light that a conspirator has when he sees his plan succeeding.
"Understood."
He turned around and strode away.
Walk firmly and without hesitation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen is the only person left in the office.
He stood in front of the window and looked at the familiar Konoha outside the window.
Under the sun, villagers come and go, children chase and play, and ninjas perform tasks. Everything is so peaceful and beautiful.
They didn't know that just now, their Hokage made a decision that might change everything.
Sarutobi Hiruzen Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
"Danzo..." he murmured, his voice so low that it was almost inaudible, "I hope you know what you are doing."
Root Base.
This is a secret base hidden deep underground, surrounded by barriers and traps. Only a handful of people know of its existence, and an even smaller number of people can enter here.
Danzo strode in, and several Root ninjas immediately came forward to greet him.
"Danzo Master!"
Danzo nodded and walked to the map.
The map marked the only road from Konoha to Kumogakure, as well as the terrain, villages, and outposts along the way. His finger moved slowly on the map, and finally clicked on a location.
That is the boundary of Konoha's sphere of influence. Going further, it is no man's land.
The best place to get hands-on.
"Target." His voice was low and cold, "Kumogakure financial advisor Kakuzu, with three guards, is carrying Konoha's war compensation for this year. The total value is 800 million taels."
The eyes of several Root ninjas lit up.
Eight hundred million taels?
That's money they will never make in their lifetime.
That's enough money to buy a country.
That's enough wealth to make anyone crazy.
"Danzo-sama." A ninja asked, with uncontrollable excitement in his voice, "What are we going to do?"
Danzo's mouth corners slightly raised.
That smile was full of coldness and cruelty.
"It's very simple." He said, "After they leave Konoha's sphere of influence, take action."
He turned around and looked at those Root ninjas.
Twelve people in total.
These are his last elite men, each of them a killing machine crawling out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Maybe not everyone is a jounin. After all, a mysterious man came to them Root Base and killed them so violently that there were not many jounin left in his hands.
But they are proficient in assassination, tracking, disguise, and interrogation, and are Konoha's sharpest hidden blades.
And there is him Danzo.
After all, he also has the combat power of Kage Level.